Whole House Water Filter Installation Guide
When considering a whole house water filter installation, the first thing that comes to mind is: How difficult is it to install it? That’s why you need this whole house water filter installation guide! Crisp, clean, great-tasting chlorine-free drinking water is given to every tap throughout the house when a whole house filter installation is done correctly.
The installation of a whole-house water filter is rather simple. The difficulty of installing a whole home water filter system is roughly a five on a scale of one to 10. If you have the necessary tools, time, patience, and organization, you’ll have your whole house water filter system up and operating in no time.
SETTING
In a nutshell, the unit should connect to the main water line as close as practicable, after the pressure reduction valve but before any T or splits. It removes a small portion of the pipe after splitting it in half. A water inlet feeds the system, and a water output connects it to your existing plumbing, using elbows, adaptors, and tubing.
You can typically find the main water line in a basement, crawl area, or garage. You can also find it in a well-house, laundry room, hot water closet, or even under the stairs.
Residents who use municipal water should locate a position before the softener that protects the ion exchange media from chlorine and avoids pressure issues. When backwashing the system, homes on private wells should probably install after the softener to unblock the flow. Well systems must also ensure that the installation takes place after the pressure tank.
Is it better to install outside or inside? In general, installing your water system indoors will help protect it from the elements and the environment. System maintenance will be easier and more practical with an interior install location. The homeowner, on the other hand, has the last say.
INSTALLING DIFFERENT TYPES OF WHOLE HOUSE WATER FILTERS
Backwashing Systems
These systems necessitate the consideration of some drained water during installation. Backwashing the system delivers up to 5 GPM of water down the drain for roughly 10 minutes. This water can dispose of in a laundry sink, floor drain, washing machine drain, or outside on bushes or grass. If none of these options are present, you can connect any existent drain pipe in a basement or garage ceiling with an air gap and P-Trap drain assembly. If there is no drain, you must use a non-backwashing approach.
The timer and the backwashing control valve both require electricity to operate. The unit only needs roughly $2 per year in energy. It is sufficient to use a regular wall outlet. If your system includes an ultraviolet light source, it will also require an outlet.
Non-Backwashing Systems
It would help if you tightly bracketed replaceable cartridge housings to a wall for optimum installation results. These non-backwashing systems should include mechanical unions on each side of the tank to enable easy maintenance in the future. Another option to explore is a pressure relief/flush port. This port makes it much easier to flush carbon dust and relieve pressure before changing filters.
For a quality installation, a permanent bypass assembly is advised. This bypass allows you to entirely bypass the filtration system at any time and utilize untreated water. It also makes it simple to remove the system if you want to carry it with you. Three shut-off valves (we recommend ball valves), two T’s, some pipe, and some extra labor are required to construct a bypass.
Because it contains a built-in bypass, we normally do not advocate using permanent bypass on a backwashing system.
DIY INSTALLATION
These are your home’s most comprehensive and complex systems. This installation is ideal when you have concerns about your home’s water quality in more than two areas. Because the only difference between these filter types is how water is filtered and the impurities they remove, the installation of these filtrations is the same for all of them.
Things You’ll Need:
- Whole House Water Filter System
- Drill
- Different Drill Bits
- Adjustable Wrench (Two Different Sizes)
- Tubing Cutter
- Bucket
- Mop
If you want to install a whole home water filter system yourself, these are the steps to take.
- Choose a site that is both accessible and close to the main shut-off valve. Make sure there’s enough room beneath the filter system to change the filter when it’s time.
- Install a new shut-off valve after cutting the pipe. To connect your pipe size and your new filter, you may require an adapter on each side of the filter.
- Assemble the filtering system to ensure that the filter may be easily accessed and replaced. You can mark a filter for cutting once you’re satisfied with how easy it is to update it.
- To make an exact and useful cut, mark the pipe.
- It’s time to put the new filtering system in place. Remember to slide on the compression rings and tighten the bolts to ensure a tight, leak-free seal. To make a secure connection, tighten the nuts. The water can now be turned back on at the main valve. Ensure there are no leaks and that your links are secure.
- If your water supply pipe already has a ground wire, you’ll need to add a jumper cable to restore its functionality.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This whole house water filter installation guide aims to help you install the system by yourself. For some, installing a water filtration system is a difficult task left to a qualified professional plumber. Once you thought that the installation appears to be a greater effort than you wish to manage alone, don’t be afraid to hire a professional.
If you opt to install the filter yourself, make careful to turn off your home’s water supply before beginning. If you forget to do so, you’ll be greeted with an unpleasant “water-under-pressure” surprise.